The government is going to construct a 13.32km Shantinagar to Dhaka-Mawa road flyover under public private partnership (PPP) initiatives at a cost of US$1.5 billion.
The PPP office has already started the process of appointing a transaction adviser to conduct feasibility study for the project, sources at the PPP office told the FE Monday.
"We will appoint a transaction adviser for the project within the next couple of months who will conduct a feasibility study within six-month period from the day of his/her appointment," a PPP office high official said.
The PPP office has prepared the request for proposal (RFP) based on the project proposal initiated by the Rajuk (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha).
After completing feasibility study the PPP office will prepare the request for quotation (RfQ) and the RFP for the project.
Besides, the PPP office also initiated negotiations with some private companies which have been included in the PPP office's panel, sources said.
"The flyover would ease the pressure that might be created after construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge," the official added.
The Rajuk has prepared the original project proposal and placed it before the cabinet committee on economic affairs but the committee took the decision to construct the flyover under PPP initiatives.
The Ministry of Housing and Public Works will acquire the necessary land for the project after getting the final nod from the government.
Sources said the flyover will be constructed as per the model of Mayor Hanif Flyover and the companies will operate and build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement.
In January 2013 year, the cabinet committee on economic affairs gave the go ahead to a proposal for construction of the flyover from Shantinagar to Dhaka-Mawa road under the Rajuk's Jhilmil Residential New Town Project. The construction work of the flyover is expected to be completed in 2016.
The flyover project was undertaken as per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in order to ensure direct and smooth vehicular movement from Padma Bridge to the Jhilmil Residential Model Town.
Earlier the Rajuk had a plan to construct the flyover from zero point to Jhilmil project, but later it changed the proposal and decided to make Shantinagar as the starting point and connect it with the Maghbazar-Malibagh flyover.
According to the project proposal, the flyover will pass through existing roads at Bijoynagar, Purana Paltan, Phulbaria intersection in Gulistan, Naya Bazar intersection, Babu Bazar and Buriganga second bridge, ending at the Jheelmil housing project beside Dhaka-Mawa road, sources said.
The flyover will also be connected with Victoria Park in the Sadarghat area.
